CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Fiji will be steaming into the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a run up, after defeating England for the first time in Test history at at Twickenham over the weekend.
This glorious moment in Fijian history has been cause for great excitement and optimism in both the homeland and amongst the diaspora elsewhere around the world.
As of 3am AESDT on Sunday morning, any who has a Fijian mate in their phone contact list has heard about the famous win,
In fact, the 30-22 victory over the game’s inventors has put the fear of God into both the Australian and Welsh sides, who will be facing them in Pool C when the RWC gets underway in France next month.
England captain Courtney Lawes says Fiji made his side “look silly” – and he would be absolutely correct right, as the rugby-mad Pacific Nation slotted three tries, three conversions and three penalty kicks to humble the Poms at home.
Fiji had lost all seven of its previous matches against England since 1988 but with great discipline and their famous flair, were able to prove to the world that they are no longer a ‘minnow nation’ when it comes to rugby union.
Waisea Nayacalevu and Vinaya Habosi touched down to put Fiji in front, and although tries by Marcus Smith and Joe Marchant closed the gap, Simione Kuruvoli delivered the decisive blow to wrap up the victory.
The narrative is now set in stone for any Fijians living between Antartica and Avignon: The Drua will sail all the way through to the William Webb Ellis Trophy.
And anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot who does not understand the game, as was highlighted by one proud Fijian-Australian in the beer garden of Betoota’s official ‘rugby pub’ on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to the media at the front bar of The Elbow Patches Hotel, Viliame (45) says this IS the year.
“They’ve been underestimated us for too long” says Viliame, as his eyes glaze over with that scary rugby world cup look.
“We would’ve won the trophy a decade ago if every single NRL team didn’t insist on having a dual-code international on their wings”
“But we’ve just beaten the English at home a month out and we haven’t even acclimatised to Europe yet. It’s all over for you casual rugby nations”
“It’s ours for the taking. And I’ll happily put anyone who disagrees under a Fijian high ball”
